Toothpaste tube squeezer

ABSTRACT

A toothpaste tube squeezer is T-shaped body and includes a handle and a body with a slot defined in the body to accommodate the bottom end of a toothpaste tube. The squeezer is rotated to squeeze toothpaste out of the tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the general art of dispensing, and tothe particular field of dispensing from collapsible wall containers.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Toothpaste is generally sold in collapsible wall tubes. The toothpasteis dispensed from these tubes by squeezing the walls of the tube afterthe cap has been removed. Many people have difficulty obtaining the lastbit of toothpaste from a tube of toothpaste. Often people, especiallychildren, tend to squeeze the tube from the middle of the tube or at anylocation they grasp the tube. This causes the tube to be unsightly andunbalanced.

Therefore, there is a need for a device for squeezing a toothpaste tubein a manner that retains the balance and character of the tube.

While the inventor is aware of several devices for squeezing atoothpaste tube, the devices of which the inventor is aware aregenerally complex and may be too difficult for a child to use.

Therefore, there is a need for a device for squeezing a toothpaste tubein a manner that retains the balance and character of the tube, andwhich is easy to use.

Still further, any such device should be easy to assemble onto thetoothpaste tube and easy to remove if desired. If a device is difficultto use, it will not be commercially successful.

Therefore, there is a need for a device for squeezing a toothpaste tubein a manner that retains the balance and character of the tube, andwhich is easy to assemble onto the toothpaste tube.

Since most toothpaste tubes are quite flexible and are intended to bediscarded after use, many toothpaste tube walls are quite thin andfragile. Any device that is intended to collapse the wall of atoothpaste tube should do so without endangering the integrity of thewall of the tube.

Therefore, there is a need for a device for squeezing a toothpaste tubein a manner that does not endanger the integrity of the wall of thetube.

PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a device forsqueezing a toothpaste tube in a manner that retains the balance andcharacter of the tube.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device forsqueezing a toothpaste tube in a manner that retains the balance andcharacter of the tube, and which is easy to use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device forsqueezing a toothpaste tube in a manner that retains the balance andcharacter of the tube, and which is easy to assemble onto the toothpastetube.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device forsqueezing a toothpaste tube in a manner that does not endanger theintegrity of the wall of the tube.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These, and other, objects are achieved by a toothpaste tube squeezerthat has a handle and a body attached to the handle. A slot havingtapered edges is defined in the body and accommodates a toothpaste tubetherein. The squeezer is operated by placing the toothpaste tube in theslot and rotating the squeezer to twist the tube in a manner that forcestoothpaste toward the neck end of the toothpaste tube.

Using the toothpaste tube squeezer embodying the present invention willpermit a tube of toothpaste to be squeezed in a manner that does notendanger the tube yet will permit the toothpaste to be forced out of thetube from the bottom of the tube whereby the tube is maintainedaesthetically pleasing and balanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toothpaste tube squeezer embodying thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the toothpaste tube squeezer shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following detailed description andthe accompanying drawings.

Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the presentinvention is embodied in a toothpaste tube squeezer 10. Squeezer 10comprises a handle 12 having a first end 14, a second end 16, and alongitudinal axis 18 which extends between first end 14 and second end18.

A body 30 is one-piece with handle 12 and includes a first end 32 whichis a distal end, a second end 34 which is a proximal end and which isattached to handle 12 midway between first end 14 and second end 16 ofhandle 12, and a longitudinal axis 36 which extends between first end 32and second end 34 of body 30. Longitudinal axis 36 is oriented at aright angle θ with respect to longitudinal axis 18 of handle 12.

A slot 40 is defined through body 30 and extends in the direction oflongitudinal axis 36 of body 30 from adjacent to first end 32 toadjacent to second end 34 of body 30. Slot 40 includes edges 42 and 44which are rounded to be convex with respect to open area 46 of slot 40.Due to this shape, a toothpaste tube located in slot 40 will becontacted by rounded edges and not sharp edges. This will protect thetube from tearing due to contact with edges adjacent to slot 40.

Use of squeezer 10 will be understood by those skilled in the art fromthe teaching of the foregoing disclosure. A bottom end of a toothpastetube is placed in slot 40 and squeezer 10 is rotated to be attached tothe toothpaste tube. Further rotation of the squeezer about longitudinalaxis 36 will force toothpaste out of the top of the tube for dispensingthat toothpaste. As toothpaste is used up, squeezer 10 is rotatedwhereby all of the toothpaste in the tube can be used.

It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention havebeen illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to thespecific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.

1. A toothpaste tube squeezer comprising: (a) a handle having a firstend, a second end and a longitudinal axis which extends between thefirst end and the second end; (b) a body which is one-piece with saidhandle and includes (1) a first end which is a distal end, (2) a secondend which is a proximal end and which is attached to said handle midwaybetween the first end of said handle and the second end of said handle,and (3) a longitudinal axis which extends between the first end of saidbody and the second end of said body and which is oriented at a rightangle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said handle; and (c) aslot defined through said body and which extends in the direction of thelongitudinal axis of said body from adjacent to the first end of saidbody to adjacent to the second end of said body, said slot including twoarcuate edges that are convex with respect to an open area defined bysaid slot.